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Ellis Prairie, Trinity County, Texas
February 19th 1867

Charles Griffin, Brevet Gen. U. S. A.

Sir: I have the honor to report to you the conduct of one of the citizens of this prairie. His name is: B. F. Harper; he is Chief Justice of said Trinity County. The first of the year 1866 he contracted with a freedman named Nelson, -, and was to give him half said freedman could make. While the crop was growing, Harper induced the negro to believe that he (the negro) would raise 25 or 30 bags of cotton. While said negro was believing under this delusion, Harper over persuaded him to make him (Harper) secure in 10 bales of cotton, which the negro did, thinking as Harper had made him believe, that he would have at least 15 bales left for his share. Harper managed to trade with him and furnish him several articles at exorbitant prices. The result was that when the cotton was baled, there was only 13 bales, and the negro having to let 10 of these go by subsequent agreement, gotten up for the purpose of swindling him out of just rights, had only 3 left, where he should